SU blown out by Harvard, 4-0

A string of one-touch passes had SU’s defense on its heels. Once Harvard’s Sophie Hirst snuck past the backline, center back Abby Jonathan’s only option was to impede Hirst’s straight shot at the net. Jonathan earned a yellow card and Hirst earned a penalty kick with 38 minutes left in the match.

Goalkeeper Jordan Harris guessed correctly, but Hirst’s penalty shot was too elevated for the transfer to deflect. The goal gave Harvard a 1-0 lead and opened the floodgates.

After playing even in the first half, defensive miscues and penalties led to four Harvard goals in the final 45 minutes in a 4-0 Orange (2-2) loss to the Crimson.

Ten minutes after Hirst’s penalty kick, Harris mishit a clearance which led to an easy goal from Harvard’s Trinity Thomas, her first career goal. With 21 minutes left, Harvard was rewarded another penalty shot, which was promptly buried by senior Leah Mohammadi. To make it 4-0, freshman Taylor Nielsen lasered a shot from 30 yards deep into the top left corner with 15 minutes remaining.

Prior to this game, SU had surrendered just two goals in its first three games. In Harvard’s previous two games, both loses, it had failed to score.

SU struggled to generate quality scoring chances all game, despite controlling most of the possession in the first half. Harvard outshot Syracuse 16-9.

The game made SU’s goalkeeping situation interesting. Harris, who has started every game so far, recorded three saves and allowed three goals — two of them penalties. Lysianne Proulx, who subbed out Harris with 19 minutes to go, allowed one goal. Proulx also made two acrobatic saves and cut down the angle on a one-on-one chance, forcing a shot wide.

The loss was the first of four road games for the Orange, who stay in the Greater Boston area for the weekend and will play Northeastern on Sunday.